Mmmm..interesting!

[Ally]

My best friend is coming over on Saturday for 6 days.

They've rented an apartment (right next to where mum and dad go to) as it's really flat and right by the beach as Martin, her husband, is in a wheelchair. He has MS.

Anyway...Jackie's been strongly advised for Mart to sleep on a ripple mattress when over here as he has some bad pressure sores at the moment and this special mattress will help him sleep better.

I found a company (UK based) but having a branch in Torremolinos.
Rang up the chap and told him my requirements, hiring of a ripple mattress with pump, for 6 days.
146 euros I was quoted.

Had a moment and rang up my friend Marie-Carmen who works in a care home (Spanish.)

Got the number of the company the home use to buy their beds, etc.

Spoke to a lovely chap Carlos who told me I can hire a ripple mattress and the pump for 6 days for the princely sum of 40 euros!

I'm being cynical here but am wondering if, because I spoke English to the English chap, that they thought they could just make up a price.

And yet I spoke Spanish to Carlos (well, I had to, he doesn't speak English) and he quoted that much cheaper price.

[tonicha]

Happens all the time Ally, sadly.

Glad you got it sorted though. Result

[Workingman]

Rip-off Britain in international action ALE, as usual.

My alternator once packed in as I was going on our annual French holiday. I was towed off the M25, insurance paid, and was quoted £145 for a new one by the garage. I bought a battery charger from the garage for a few quid and charged the battery up then drove to France. I stopped at the first Citroen garage I found and had the diode pack changed for €35. We were on our way in less than an hour.

The Europeans think that we are fools for the price that we pay for things, and British companies working in Europe take advantage of us.

[Ally]

WM..I'm not normally a cynic but this did make me think.

[Kaz]

Yep the English guy thought he saw you coming, but he reckoned without you being a canny Scot with fluent Spanish

[Workingman]

ALE, I have travelled quite a bit and I work on the principle that "When in Rome" works best. Locals usually know where the best deals are... so I use local knowledge.

Leeds has a lot of Norwegian tourists, for some reason. Who is going to get them the best deals? Will it be someone from the Norwegian Consulate, or a Loiner who lives in the city?

It is not cynical, it is logical.

[JoM]

Kaz's spot on there I say

[Ally]

Yep the English guy thought he saw you coming, but he reckoned without you being a canny Scot with fluent Spanish

I didn't even think of anything local at first as Jackie had googled the UK company and I just went with that.

Thank goodness I had my moment.

The apartment they've rented is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom place and Don and I are going over there for 2 days which I'm really looking forward to.
It's Mart's birthday as well so that'll be lovely.

Yippee..2 days at the seaside.

[Kaz]

[Lozzles]

Thank goodness I had my moment.

I wish I had moments. I only ever seem to have moments or even moments. I do have plenty of moments too lately with a liberal sprinkling of moments...but right now I'm having a moment